Male Victims Trainings

This Ask the Expert session will review the relational damage caused by abuse as it interacts with external and internalized norms of male in-vulnerability. Participants will also learn how male survivors in therapy discover and develop a capacity for emotional daring, depth, authenticity, and intimacy.

This session is designed for participants to ask expert Roger Canaff, J.D. questions to help you understand the dynamics of male victimization and how to improve your practices in working with this underserved population. The Ask the Expert session had two-parts. After registration, participants received a link to a 20-minute pre-recorded mini lecture by the presenter, Mr. Canaff. Part two was the live, virtual Ask the Expert session and consisted of the presenter answering participant questions for 30-minutes.

This basic training will explore what trauma looks like for males and how systems can unintentionally impact the perpetuation of trauma. The effects of trauma on children will be outlined paying particular attention to multicultural considerations of abuse. Participants will discuss identifying appropriate assessment techniques and the implementation self-care strategies. This course is designed for service providers working with male survivors or trauma particularly mental health professionals working with incarcerated youth and men, advocates, and correctional officers. This beginning level training was intended for therapists, social workers and advocates.

This training, presented by Gimel Rogers, Psy.D., is a recorded live event and is approximately 6 hours long. If you are from a rural county and would like to request the link to watch this training please fill out the form below.

This 1-hour webinar presented by Randy Flood, MA, LLP outlines a new paradigm for understanding how typical male socialization gives rise to various forms of toxic masculinity that lock men into violent life-paths, ways this toxic masculinity (Mascupathy) presents, and some clinical techniques that have allowed men in treatment to recover their innately more balanced and healthy humanity.

This webinar addresses the unique circumstances encountered when boys are sexually victimized, either by males or females. While many of the dynamics of child sexual abuse are shared between boys and girls with little or no variation, there are circumstances and aspects of sexual abuse experienced and endured by boys that tend to be gender specific. The reason for these differences is rooted largely in cultural and societal models of masculinity. While these models are continually evolving (and arguably decreasing in intensity), they are still present in most cultures around the world.

This basic training provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the male victim including their reluctance to disclose, the perpetrators who victimize them, the challenges they face in seeking help and how to support them in their recovery. This training, presented by Julie Brand, M.S., is a recorded live event and is approximately 6 hours long.

This course will provide an overview of intimate partner violence, adolescent intimate partner violence, toxic masculinity, and healthy relationships. This course is designed to provide psychoeducation on foundational constructs to intimate partner violence and the similarities and differences between adolescents and adults. In addition, it will explore male victims and how toxic masculinity impacts male victims. It will conclude with discussion of healthy relationships.

Gimel Rogers, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist with over 10 years of professional speaking and training experience. She currently is the Training Director of the Professional Clinical and Forensic Services Department at the Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma (IVAT). She earned her doctorate from Pepperdine University and has provided trauma focused care with clients from the Children of the Night Program, the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, FCI Terminal Island, and community programs serving survivors of intimate partner violence. She utilizes an array of therapeutic interventions with an emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Rogers presently works with survivors who are recovering from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Additionally, she assists clients who are involved in criminal, family, and civil cases involving a broad range of forensic issues. Having published in the areas of culture, coping, spirituality, and trauma, she is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and Point Loma Nazarene University. Her inaugural book is the "21-Day Relationship Healing and Devotional Journal," a poetry-based devotional that promotes restoration through reflection. Dr. Rogers dedicates time and energy to individuals across the world through her organization Fearless Individuals Resistants to Entrapment (F.I.R.E) and its brand One Temple Fitness.

Foster Youth Victims Trainings

What happens when our systems of support become systems of oppression? In this ask the expert we will explore the risk factors that system involved youth face and how we can create better support to prevent and/or intervene.

As the Training and Prevention Manager at MISSSEY, Inc., Andrea Diaz advocates and supports youth through education. She loves being in the community and working towards creating safer spaces for youth to navigate by offering outreach, information, and collaboration. Andrea is a certified domestic violence counselor and has served as a case manager, SFPD liaison, and education manager in that field. She is passionate about working with women and youth and learning how to best build support for and around them.

This session will review the following 10 key considerations for supporting teen mothers in the foster care system: Understanding the foster system for a teen mom; Understanding the impact of threats of separation as a trauma specific to teen mothers; How fear inhibits healthy parenting; How to create a sanctuary for a teen mom;
Guidance on the initial transition and adjustment phase; Clarifying foster parent and teen parent roles; Healthy modeling; Attachment and Bonding; Good enough parenting;
The power of expectation

This session is designed for participants to ask expert Michele Bartlett, LCSW questions to help you understand the risk factors of transitional age foster youth and how to improve your practices in working with this underserved population. The Ask the Expert session had two-parts. After registration, participants received a link to a 20-minute pre-recorded mini lecture by Ms. Bartlett. Part two was the live, virtual Ask the Expert session and consisted of the presenter answering participant questions for 30-minutes.

This basic training was designed to share information on how to understand and better serve this population and will include practical and effective strategies that can be used immediately. From their various placements, transitions between families and homes, and “aging out” of the foster care system, the needs of these youth require professionals to have a wide knowledge base. This beginning level training was intended for therapists, social workers and advocates. This training, presented by Teresa DeCrescenzo, LCSW, is a recorded live event and is approximately 6 hours long.

This session will offer participants a window into the trauma impacts of having an incarcerated parent, as well as explore recommended strategies for those working with foster children to mitigate these impacts. After reviewing the framework of trauma types, specific traumas experienced by foster youth, with an incarcerated parent(s), will be reviewed. Participants will be given strategies for working with foster children and how to support the adults who are caring for them. A part of the training will focus on vicarious trauma to help service providers and foster parents identify self-care techniques.

This training, presented by Sayida Peprah, Psy.D., is a recorded live event and is approximately 6 hours long. If you are from a rural county and would like to request the link to watch this training please fill out the form below.

This 1-hour webinar will cover various attachment classifications and how they impact both adults and children. Individuals learn very early in life, through their early experience with caretakers, whether the world is a safe or unsafe place. This early “lens” of the world has far reaching implications. This workshop will discuss the formation of attachment patterns, their resulting “internal working models” and the intersection between attachment and victimization or trauma.

This 1-hour webinar presented by Amber McDonald, LCSW provides participants with the most current research on what is known about youth involvement in the commercial sex industry; and, will expose the many complicating factors in the lives of youth they are attempting to assess/treat. Strategies and tools on how to respond and engage effectively with this vulnerable youth population will be given. Finally, participants will leave the webinar with a clinical assessment guide in hand, that will assist them in establishing a client centered and trauma informed plan for treatment.

LGBTQ Youth Victims Trainings

This session was designed for participants to ask expert Al Killen-Harvey, LCSW questions to help understand the risk factors of LGBTQ youth and how to improve practices in working with this underserved population. The Ask the Expert session had two-parts. After registration, participants received a link to a 20-minute pre-recorded mini lecture by Mr. Killen-Harvey. Part two was the live, virtual Ask the Expert session and consisted of the presenter answering participant questions for 30-minutes.

This session is designed for participants to ask expert Liat Wexler questions to help you understand the cultural dynamics of abuse in LGBTQIA+ relationships and how to improve your practices in working with this underserved population. Participants will develop a more nuanced understanding of the culturally-specific tactics of power and control used in abusive relationships in LGBTQIA+ communities and the dynamics in these communities that create a foundation for abuse. Participants will gain greater awareness to spot and respond to partner abuse when it happens to queer and transgender clients.

The primary goal of this workshop was to explore the high degree of risk of abuse faced by gay and lesbian adolescents. Due to a lack of information and visibility this group of adolescents faces physical, sexual and emotional abuse at home, school and in society at large. The discussion included an overview of the stages of sexual identity development and identification of the physical and emotional stressors experienced by this population. This training, presented by Al Killen-Harvey, LCSW, is a recorded live event and is approximately 6 hours long.

This 1-hour webinar session presented by Mark Abelsson, MSW provided an overview of the unique developmental challenges LGBTQ youth face, the factors that place these youth at risk of abuse, and their vulnerability to engage in risk-taking behaviors. This workshop also delineated ways to promote safe, affirming and non-abusive agency environments for participants.

This 1-hour webinar session presented by Jenny Aguilar, MSW discussed the LGBTQIAA terms, meanings and also the fluidity of one's sexual identity and self-identity. Participants will leave the webinar with some statistics, information and tips on how they can have these uncomfortable talks in a way that isn't so bad!

Victims with Disabilities Trainings

The prerecorded session will provide a foundation on recognizing and responding to the scene with a victim with a developmental disability related to the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Guillermo will discuss common indicators to identify individuals with ASD, actions that can trigger a negative response, best practices, tools for your “toolbox” and governmental and non-profit organization resources.
The prerecorded session can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2fp46EWqg

Guillermo Auyon is a retired Special Agent in Charge of the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ). He spent 13 years with the CA DOJ, retiring in December 2019. SAC Auyon was the Program Manager for the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, e-Crimes/Cyber Crimes Unit, Pharmaceutical Narcotics Task Force (RxNET) and the Foreign Prosecution and Law Enforcement Unit (FPLEU). While assigned to the FPLEU as a Supervisor and Agent for over 10 years, SAC Auyon developed an expert background on Foreign Prosecutions in Mexico, Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abductions and domestic & international law enforcement relations. SAC Auyon has an extensive background working with various domestic and international law enforcement agencies, central authorities, district attorney offices, social services and non-profit organizations. For the past 4 years, SAC Auyon has taken a profound personal and professional interest in the recognition and response practices with our special needs community.

This session was designed for participants to ask expert Dr. Matthew Mason questions to help understand the risk factors of LGBTQ youth and how to improve practices in working with this underserved population. The Ask the Expert session had two-parts. After registration, participants received a link to a 20-minute pre-recorded mini lecture by Dr. Matthew Mason. Part two was the live, virtual Ask the Expert session and consisted of the presenter answering participant questions for 30-minutes.

This session is designed for participants to ask expert Dr. Scott Modell questions to help you understand the susceptibility of victimization for persons with disabilities and how to improve your practices in working with this underserved population.

This 1-hour webinar on the topic of “Autism Movement Therapy”, a method that works with individuals across the spectrum to help them understand directions to music with movement. The structure and repetition help to wake up the brain and provide meaning. This method has also been developed into a subsequent group entitled “Autism Works Now!” where individuals who have been successful are now working on pre-employment skills and working with the support needed to be successful in getting and keeping jobs. Each of these practices will be discussed and reviewed.

This in-person training focused on working across disciplines to provide support to victims with disabilities. The presenter discussed working with law enforcement, finding appropriate levels of counseling, and identifying appropriate referrals. Participants learned some of the specific issues leading to the higher rates of abuse for persons with epilepsy and cerebral palsy, as well as developing appropriate treatment plans. This training, presented by Dr. Steven Graff, is a recorded live event and is approximately 6 hours long.

This training presented by SEEDS Educational Services, Inc., is a recorded live event and is approximately 4 hours long. This workshop explores the facts regarding the prevalence of disabilities regarding social-sexual education, abuse and common myths associated with disabilities including how professionals can combat these practices with simple tools and understanding. We will also explore the lack of social-sexual education resources to an undeserved population of people with developmental disabilities and easy social-sexual materials that can help combat the ever-growing statistics.

Presented by Leanne Mull, MHA
This web-based training discussed strategies for effective responses to victims with a wide range of disabilities. This is an hour long presentation where participants asked questions directly to the trainer on topics including: cases that presented unique dynamics, overcoming barriers experienced by people with disabilities, getting your team educated on the nuances specific to this population, communication tips for working with crime victims with disabilities, and any obstacles you encounter in your work with clients with disabilities.

This 1-hour webinar presented by Staci Whitney, LMSW included information regarding working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a focus on risk factors, protective factors, family dynamics and barriers to services. Following the webinar, professionals will have a better understanding of issues impacting individuals with disabilities and tools to overcome barriers that exist when communicating with and serving individuals with disabilities.

Cal OES

Produced by the Center for Innovation and Resources, Inc. (CIR) with funding from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), Victim Services Branch with funding made possible through the United States Department of Justice, Victims of Crime Act, 2015-VA-GX-0058.

Produced by the Center for Innovation and Resources, Inc. (CIR) with funding from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), Victim Services Branch with funding made possible through the United States Department of Justice, Victims of Crime Act, 2015-VA-GX-0058.